Intel Disables DirectX 12 API Loading on Haswell Processors

LASER_oneXM

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Intel's fourth-generation Core processors, codenamed Haswell, are subject to new security exploits. According to the company, a vulnerability exists inside the graphics controller of 4th generation Haswell processors, happening once the DirectX 12 API loading occurs. To fix the problem, Intel has found that disabling this API results in a fix. Starting with Intel graphics driver 15.40.44.5107 applications that run exclusively on DirectX 12 API no longer work with the following Intel Graphics Controllers: Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200/5100, HD Graphics 5000/4600/4400/4200, and Intel Pentium and Celeron Processors with Intel HD Graphics based on 4th Generation Intel Core.

"A potential security vulnerability in Intel Graphics may allow escalation of privilege on 4th Generation Intel Core processors. Intel has released a software update to mitigate this potential vulnerability. In order to mitigate the vulnerability, DirectX 12 capabilities were deprecated." says the Intel page. If a user with a Haswell processor has a specific need to run the DirectX 12 application, they can downgrade their graphics driver to version 15.40.42.5063 or older.
"A potential security vulnerability in Intel Graphics may allow escalation of privilege on 4th Generation Intel Core processors. Intel has released a software update to mitigate this potential vulnerability.


__EDIT__ another article:

Those using a dedicated GPU shouldn't worry, but if you want to run DirectX 12-based applications and games using the iGPU of these processors, Intel states you'll have to downgrade to the graphics driver 15.40.42.5063 or older.

All these processors feature iGPUs based on Intel's Gen7 GPU architecture, but it seems the issue resides elsewhere. Some of Intel's 3rd-gen Core CPUs also use iGPUs based on that same architecture, but they're not featured in the list.
 
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LASER_oneXM

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gonza

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Sep 10, 2019
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Well, not an Intel fan at all, but Haswell launched in 2013, so it's old. I think nobody is using Haswell's igpu to play DirectX 12 games. At least, this is some kind of "security patch". A really bad approach, tbh.
 

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